San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Things to consider before adding an outdoor kitchen
Deep down, most homeowners would love to have a cozy outdoor escape – particularly one where they could cook, commune, converse and entertain over burgers and beer.
That’s where Cozy Outdoor Escapes, a turnkey solution to building outdoor kitchens, comes in.
Travis Ponder, operations manager, said what sets Cozy Outdoor Escapes apart is that it’s a “one-stop shop,” of sorts, where they offer all the services of installing outdoor kitchens themselves – ranging from design to installation to stonework to countertops to utilities, as well as any services needed afterwards.
While installing outdoor kitchens is one of their mainstays, Cozy Outdoor Escapes also install fireplaces – both indoor and outdoor – as well as fire pits, both gas and wood. In their showroom, they also offer some furniture options for homeowners.
Ponder said the outdoor kitchen trend first caught on some 15 years ago.
“We started the business in 2011, and it was already fairly popular,” he said. But, he said, it’s caught on exponentially in Texas over the last decade and a half, in part influenced by California, Arizona, and other states where the outdoor kitchen market is saturated.
“It had a pretty steady increase and interest in frequency, and so there was a natural progression,” Ponder said.
And, he added, since the pandemic, more and more homeowners have sought to beautify their outdoor spaces, adding pools, outdoor kitchens and the like.
“The thought process was, ‘If I have to stay home, I want to enjoy it,’” he said. Often, Ponder noted, those who had put aside money for vacations they were unable to take due to COVID-19 instead invested it in upgrading their backyard amenities.
There are many components that can be included in the design of an outdoor kitchen, depending on the individual customer’s needs.
“Some of the components that we’re seeing frequently are gas grills, charcoal grills, sinks, refrigerators, built-in trash cans, counterspace, workspace,” Ponder said. “There’s a functional aspect to it, but there’s an entertainment aspect, too.”
The built-in trash can is an especially desirable option, he added. “It keeps everything nice and tidy. You don’t have to worry about it blowing over, the dog getting into it. It has a foot pedal – you tap it with your foot and it’s spring-loaded.”
And, he said, outdoor refrigeration is a sought-after commodity since it enables homeowners to store drinks, beer, and food outside for outdoor entertaining.
But most of his clients don’t just want a spot to go outside and grill some burgers. They want something more inviting – a walk-up bar, a place to sit, something to engage visitors who come over.
That’s why Ponder says the first question he asks clients, “What’s the intentionality of this? What’s the intention here?”
Because, he added, outdoor kitchens offer different value and different functions to different families.
And, he added, there are studies that suggest it can also improve resale value of a home, making it an even more desirable option for those who love to be outside.
Ponder said that there’s always “going to be a way to do it cheaper,” but beyond price, it’s also important to consider if you’re having your outdoor kitchen installed correctly and well – by a reputable builder.
On the low end, the simplest outdoor kitchens cost about $8,000 to $10,000, Ponder said, but can range all the way to $20,000 and beyond for more luxurious iterations.
But the added resale value to your home is not the only reason to consider installing an outdoor kitchen, Ponder noted.
“I think entertainment value is kind of the number-one bullet point,” he said. “It just lends itself to a better entertainment space.”
He added that that’s one thing he’s always trying to find out from customers – how to make the best, most unique, most convenient entertainment space to serve their own personal needs.
“We want to be able to incorporate good working space, good storage, and just an effective use of space for whatever they have to work with,” Ponder said.
For more information on how to use Cozy Outdoor Escapes to plan your own outdoor kitchen, visit www.cozyoutdoorescapes.com – which includes an email contact form – or call the direct business line at 210-276-0734.
Or, to visit the Cozy Outdoor Escapes showroom and see some examples of outdoor kitchen options and figure out which one is best for you, visit it at 43 West Rhapsody Drive in San Antonio.